Dispensing pump for fluids



April 17, 1962 L. D. CURTIS 3,0

DISPENSING PUMP FOR FLUIDS Filed April 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR a LYDA DARRELL CuRr/s iTTORNEYS April 17, 1962 L. D. CURTIS Filed April 2, 1959 DISPENSING PUMP FOR FLUIDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 43 F/G 4 F/G. 3 43 42 20 44 H I i :2 #41! H 2:. "M1 F L11 m 49 4M ii" 49 47 i 47 i a 47 4a f; 47 5 0 W" 51: 8 48 n 9 so /9 l 5 I 'IHH 24 I4 5 u/ V 24 /5 /7 39A l3 I INVENTOR 1" LYDA DARRELL CuRr/s April 17, 1962 L. D. cuR'rls 3,02

DISPENSING PUMP FOR FLUIDS Filed April 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 10 /0 i 5 /a 13 I3 20 43 F/G/Z i i i 2/ 40 INVENTQR LYoA DARRELL CURTIS ORNEYS This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in pumps, and more particularly seeks to provide a novel dispensing pump for fluids, such as hand creams and the like. 7

For many years, it was customary to package hand creams and the like in bottles. When it was desired to dispense certain of the hand cream, it was necessary to first remove the top and then to pour the hand cream out into ones hand. The amount of hand cream dispensed in this manner varied greatly, depending upon the viscosity of the hand cream and the care with which it was poured. Recently, it has become feasible to provide a dispensing pump which may be readily screwed onto the top of a bottle, jar or can, in lieu of the normal shipping cap, and with which dispenser a desired amount of liquid may be dispensed upon each actuation of the pump. While these dispensing pumps have generally cured the vdispensing problem, they have presented other problems.

The first of these is the cost of the dispensing pump. Otherproblems include the possibility of spillage of the contents of a bottle or other type of container having the dispensing pump mounted thereon should the container be upset. Further, in certain instances, the liquid to be dispensed is volatile with the result that unless the container is sealed, the liquid will have a tendency to thicken and harden, and thus not be suitable for the intended purpose. 7

In view of the foregoing, it is another object of the invention to provide a novel dispensing pump which may be readily mounted on a bottle or other type of container in lieu of the customary screw cap, and which dispensing pump is so constructed that when it is not in use, it may be retained in a position wherein the contents of the container on which the dispensing pump is mounted may be sealed to the atmosphere.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel dispensing pump to be used in dispensing hand creams and the like from bottles and other types of containers, the dispensing pump being of an extremely simple construction and being formed of a minimum of parts so that it may be readily assembled and thus is economical to manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved diaphragm and valve assembly for a dispensing pump of the type having inlet and outlet valves of the check valve type, the diaphragm and valve assembly being of an integral construction and including a diaphragm and at least one flap valve member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel dispensing pump which includes a diaphragm and inlet and outlet check valve assemblies of the type utilizing flap valve members, the dispensing pump including a pump body having valve seats formed therein for engagement by the flap valve members, and another seat for thesealing engagement of the diaphragm with respect.

to the pump body, the diaphragm seat being disposed adjacent the valve seats, and the diaphragm and the flap valve members being integrally formed whereby the diaphragm and flap valve members my be assembled with the pump body in a single step.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel dispensing pump which includes an inlet valve seat, a diaphragm and a diaphragm actuator, all disposed in axial alignment, whereby the diaphragm may be moved 3,029,742 Patented Apr. 17, 1962 ice to an instroke position with the diaphragm engaging the valve member associated with the valve seat to thus hold the valve member in a sealed position with respect to the valve seat, and there being provided means for locking the diaphragm in its instroke position whereby the valve member is held in its seated position to thus seal the contents of the container on which the dispensing pump is mounted.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel dispensing pump which is intended to be mounted on a bottle or other type of conventional container having a screw thread type closure, the dispensing pump including a pump body having a portion adapted to be threadedly engaged on a container and pump means connected to the pump body, and there additionally being provided a housing which is ornamental in nature, which housing has a dispensing spout formed therein and which is received over the pump body and the movable components of the pump so as to encase the pump elements and thus provide a dispensing pump which is not only desirable from a functional standpoint, but also from an ornamental standpoint.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings: In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bottle, such as a hand cream bottle, and shows the dispensingpump positioned thereon.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the center of the dispensing pump, along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, and shows the general details of the dispensing pump.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and shows further the details of the dispensing pump, the lower portion of the pump body being shown in elevation' FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to' FIGURE 3, and shows the dispensing pump with the diaphragm thereof in its instroke position, and the flap valve member of the inlet valve in sealed engagement with the valve seat therefor.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, and shows the pump during its instroke movement.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 and shows the pump diaphragm in its outstroke movement.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, and corresponding to FIGURE 4, showing the pump diaphragm in its instroke position and the flap valve member of the inlet valve being sealed with its valve seat.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective View of the combined diaphragm and valve assembly used in the dispensing pump.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a plunger cap used for actuating the diaphragm.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line lib-Ill of FIGURE 4, and shows the relationship between the plunger cap and a pair of guides of the housing of the pump to lock the plunger and diaphragm in an instroke position.

FZGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view similar to FIGURE 10, and shows the plunger cap in a released position.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through a modified form of dispensing pump, the detail of the inlet valve having been changed 3% from that of the dispensing pump of FIGURES 1 through 11.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary exploded view of a modified form of inlet flap valve member and its associated seat.

In the example of embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 11, inclusive, the dispensing pump is generally referred to by the numeral 5. The general outline of the dispensing pump is best illustrated in FIGURE 1, wherein the dispensing pump 5 is illustrated as being mounted on a bottle 6. The bottle 6 may contain any type of liquid which may be pumped and which is desired to be dispensed. An example of such a liquid is a hand cream.

Reference is now had to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, wherein it is shown that the dispensing pump 5 includes a pump unit, generally referred to by the numeral 7, and a housing, generally referred to by the numeral 8. The housing is primarily of an ornamental configuration, although it does have certain functional aspects which will be described in detail hereinafter, and completely encases the pump unit 7.

The pump unit 7 includes a pump body, generally referred to by the numeral 9. The pump body 9 is of a one-piece construction, and is preferably molded of plastic, although other types of construction may be utilized. The pump body 9 includes a cylindrical body portion 10 which has threads 11 formed on the interior thereof. The upper end of the pump body 16 is closed by a top wall 12, and an outwardly projecting annular flange 13 is disposed along the lower edge of the body member 10.

An outer cylindrical projection 14 projects upwardly from the top wall 12 inwardly of the peripheral edge thereof. An inner cylindrical projection 15 also pr0- jects upwardly from the top wall 12 and is disposed concentric with the outer projection 14. A tubular stem 16 depends from the underside of the top wall 12 concentric to the body member 18. The stem .16 has a bore 17 which extends the full length of the stem 16 and which extends through the top wall 12 and terminates within the interior of the inner projection 15. A pickup tube 18 is telescoped over the stem 16. The pickup tube 18 will be of a length to extend down into the bottom of the container on which the dispensing pump 5 is mounted.

The housing 8 may be of any design. However, the lower portion thereof should be frusto-conical, as in dicated by the numeral 19. It is also necessary that the housing 8 have a top wall 20 and a dispensing spout 21. The dispensing spout 21 should terminate in a downwardly directed orifice 22, as shown.

The internal diameter of the lower part of the frustoconical portion 19 should be slightly greater than the external diameter of the flange 13 so that the flange 13 will engage the inner surface of the housing 8 slightly above the lower edge of the housing 8. The frustoconical portion 19 has formed integral therewith a relatively narrow annular flange 23 which projects inwardly and which has an internal diameter equal to the external diameter of the body member 10 so that the body member 10 is centered with respect to the frusto-conical portion 19. The frusto-conical portion 19 also has an inwardly projecting upper annular flange 24. The flange 24 is disposed at the lower end of the dispensing spout 21 and an opening 25 is provided in the flange 24 for the passage of fluid being dispensed. A downwardly projecting seat 26 is formed around the inner surface of the flange 24. The seat 26 is aligned with and spaced slightly above the upper surface of the outer projection 14.

The upper part of the inner projection 15 is of a reduced diameter to form an internal shoulder which functions as a valve seat 27 of the inlet valve. An opening 28 is formed in the upper part of the'inner projection for the passage of a flap valve member to be described hereinafter. An opening 29 is also formed in the upper part of the outer projection 14. The opening 29 is disposed in diametrical alignment with the opening 28, but is remote from the opening 28. The opening 29 defines a discharge passage.

Reference is now had to FIGURE 8 in particular, wherein there are illustrated the details of a combined diaphragm and valve assembly, generally referred to by the reference numeral 30. The combined diaphragm and valve assembly 30 includes a generally frusto-conical diaphragm 31 which is provided at the lower edge with a peripheral mounting rim 32. A relatively short flap valve member 33, which will be considered the discharge flap valve member, is formed integral with the rim 32 and depends therefrom. A second flap valve member 34, which will be considered an inlet flap valve member, is disposed in diametrically opposite relation from the flap valve member 33. The flap valve member 34 is integrally connected to the rim 32 and is elongated as compared to the flap valve member 33.

The rim 32 corresponds generally to the seat 26 formed in the flange 24. When the dispensing pump 5 is assembled, the rim 32 is seated in the seat as and is clamped between the flange 24 and the upper surface of the outer projection 14. At the same time, the flap valve member 33 projects downwardly exteriorly of the outer projection 14 in overlying relation to the opening 29 and engages the outer surface of the outer projection 14 to normally close the opening 29. The outer projection 14 has a seat 35 aligned with the opening 28 in which that portion of the flap valve member 34 adjacent the rim 32 seats. The flap valve member 34 is guided through the opening 28 and seats on the valve seat 27 to normally close the bore 17;

As is best shown in FIGURE 2, the diaphragm 31 has a flat top wall portion 36 to which a downwardly projecting part 37 is integrally connected. The part 37 defines an upwardly opening socket 38. A return spring 39 has the upper end thereof telescoped over the downwardly projecting part 37 and the lower end thereof is received in the inner projection 15 with the extreme lower end of the return spring 39 seating on the outer part of the valve seat 27. The return spring 39 serves both to urge the diaphragm 31 to its outstroke position and to retain the flap valve member 34 in position relative to the valve seat 27. It is to be understood that the pump body 9 will be secured to the housing 8 by a suitable adhesive at points of intersection between the two.

' As is best shown in FIGURE 2, the dispensing pump 5 also includes a plunger assembly generally referred to by the numeral 40. The plunger assembly 48 includes an elongated plunger rod 41 and a plunger cap 42. The plunger cap 42 passes through an opening 43 formed in the top wall portion 20 of the housing 8 and projects thereabove. The upper part of the plunger cap 42 is in the form of a finger-engageable portion 44. A central bore 45 is formed in the lower part of the plunger cap 42 and the upper end of the plunger rod 41 is received in the bore 45. The lower end of the plunger rod 41 is received in the socket 38. A collar 46 is formed on the lower part of the plunger rod 41 and bears against the top wall portion 36 of the diaphragm 31. Thus, by placing downward pressure on the plunger cap 42, the plunger assembly 40 may be moved downwardly to move the diaphragm 31 from its outstroke position to its instroke position. When the pressure is removed from the plunger cap 42, the return spring 3! will return the diaphragm 31 and the plunger assembly 40 to their original. positions. Referring now to FIGURE 3 in particular, it will be seen that the housing 8 includes a pair of diametrically opposed guides 47 which extend upwardly from the flange 24 to the top wall 20. The guides 47 are in the form of plates and have opposed edges 48 which are spaced apart a distance little greater than the diameter of the plunger cap 42. Horizontally aligned openings 49 are formed in the guides 47 below the top wall 20, the openings 49 opening through the edges 48.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 9, l and 11,

- 50, but terminates short thereof. The thickness of the latch elements 51 favorably corresponds to the height of the openings 49 so as to permit the followers 51 to be received in the openings 49. The relationship of the latch elements 51 with respect to the openings 49 is that when the latch elements 51 are disposed in the openings 49, the diaphragm 31 is in its instroke position, as is shown in FIGURE 7, and the lower end of the projecting" part 37 is in engagement with the flap valve member 34 and retains the flap valve member 34 in sealed engagement with the valve seat 27. At this time, it is pointed out that the plunger assembly 40 must be assembled in the housing 8 before the pump unit '7 is positioned therein.

When the container 6 is stored, the plunger cap 42 is in a recessed position and locked against vertical movement by the inner coaction of the latch elements 51 and the guides 47. Thus, the diaphragm 31 is retained in its instroke position, and the inlet valve is closed so as to seal the contents of the container 6 to the atmosphere. When it is desired to dispense the contents of the container 6, it is necessary to rotate the plunger cap 42 in a counterclockwise direction to the position illustrated in FIGURE 11. At this time, the plunger assembly it) is free to move upwardly, as indicated in FIGURE 6. During this upward movement, a vacuum will 'be created within the diaphragm 31, with the result that the check valve member 34 will be moved upwardly to an open position, and fluid from within the container 6 will be drawn up through the tube 18 into the stem 16, and finally into the diaphragm 31.

When the diaphragm 31 reaches its outstroke position, as is illustrated in FIGURE 2, the area generally defined by the diaphragm 31 and the upper portion of the pump body member 10 will have the fluid to be dispensed disposed therein. When the plunger assembly 40 is moved downwardly to move the diaphragm 31 towards its instroke position, as is illustrated in FIGURE 5, the pressure of the fluid within the diaphragm 31 will force the check valve member 33 to an unseated position, with the result that the fluid to be dispensed will be pumped into the spout 21. This procedure is continued until the desired amount of fluid is dispensed. Since no component of the pump unit 31 changes during the actuation thereof, it will be seen that an equal amount of fluid will be dispensed upon each stroke of the plunger assembly to.

After the desired dispensing operation has been completed, the plunger assembly 40 is again depressed until the diaphragm 31 is in its instroke position, at which time the plunger cap 42 is rotated to lock the plunger assembly 40 in its retracted position. Thus, the flap valve member 34 is returned to its sealed engagement with the valve seat 27 and the contents of the container 6 are again sealed to the atmosphere.

From the foregoing description of the components of the dispensing pump 5, it will be readily apparent that the dispensing pump is formed of a relatively small number of individual components which must be assembled. Furthermore, all of the components of the dispensing pump 5, with the exception of the return spring 39, may be molded on a mass-production basis. The return spring 39, being of a standard type, may also be mass-produced. Therefore, the dispensing pump 5, not only has the advantage of being scalable when not being used, but is also of a construction which makes it economically feasible.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 12 wherein a modifled form of dispensing pump is illustrated. This dispensing pump is generally referred to by the numeral 52, and differs from the dispensing pump 5 only in the details of the inlet valve assembly. The dispensing pump 52 includes a housing 3 and a pump body 9. It also includes a plunger assembly 40. However, the pump body 9 has been modified to eliminate the valve seat 27, although a shoulder 53 remains. The shoulder 53 extends around the upper end of a bore 54- which is an extension of the bore 17. A valve seat 55 is formed at the intersection between the bores 17 and 54. A ball valve member 56 is disposed within the bore 54- and is engageable with the valve seat 55 to form a seal therewith. The lower end of the return spring 39 now seats directly on the shoulder 53.

A modified form of combined diaphragm and valve assembly 36 is provided, and is referred to in general by the reference numeral 57. The combined diaphragm and valve assembly 57 includes a diaphragm 58 having a rim 59 at the lower edge thereof. Also, a depending flap valve member 61 which corresponds to the flap valve member 33, depends from the rim 59 and cooperates with the discharge opening 2h to form a discharge valve assembly. The diaphragm 58 is of the same construction as is the diaphragm 31 and functions in the same manner.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the dispensing pump 52 differs from the dispensing pump 5 only in that the flap type check valve disposed at the inlet of the pump has been eliminated, and a ball type check valve substituted therefor. While this results in the increase inthe number of parts by one over the number of parts of the dispensing pump 5, the components of the dispensing pump 52 may be more readily assembled than the components of the dispensing pump 5. The saving in time in assembling the components of the dispensing pump 52 will more than offset the cost of the ball valve member 56, which may be bought at a very low cost in quantity.

A modified form of inlet flap valve member is illustrated in FIGURE 13, and is generally referred to by the numeral 134. The flap valve member 134 is formed as an integral part of a combined diaphragm and valve assembly (not shown) which, with the exception of the fiap valve member 134, is identical to the combined diaphragm and valve assembly 30. The flap valve member 134 has a reduced'end portion 135 which forms a pair of shoulders 13s at its line of juncture with the remainder of the flap valve member 134. The reduced end portion 135 is of a size to pass through the opening 28 in the inner projection 15 and the shoulders 136 abut the exterior surface of the inner projection 15, as is shown in dotted lines. With this relationship, the flap valve member '134 may be made slightly longer than necessary in order to assure that a slight pressure will always be present urging the shoul ders 136 into engagement with the inner projection 15. This eliminates the possibility of the flap valve member 134 being displaced relative to its seat. Also, the accurate positioning of the end portion 135 eliminates interference by the return spring 39.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there have been devised two forms of dispensing pumps which are very desirable. The construction of the dispensing pumps is such that the ornamental configuration of the dispensing pumps may be varied, as desired within certain limits so as to be pleasing to the eye. Furthermore, the structural features of the dispensing pumps are such that they may be economically produced and at the same time give the desired results.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous construction has been disclosed for attaining the desired ends. However, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention.

surface of said pump body and closing said discharge passage against the ingress of fluid into said pump chamber, said first flap valve member and said second flap valve member being integrally connected to said diaphragm, and said diaphragm having means for engaging said first flap valve member and positively retaining said fiap valve member in engagement with said pump body to close said inlet passage when said diaphragm is in its instroke position.

2. A dispensing pump comprising a pump body, a diaphragm, a housing telescoped over said diaphragm and said pump body and securing said diaphragm to said pump body in sealed relation, said pump body and said diaphragm combined defining a pump chamber, said pump body having an inlet passage and a discharge passage, a first flap valve member normally engaging an inner surface of said pump body and closing said inlet passage against the egress of fluid from said pump chamber, a second flap valve member normally engaging an outer surface of said pump body and closing said discharge passage against the ingress of fluid into said pump chamber, said first flap valve member and said second flap valve member being integrally connected to said diaphragm, a plunger guidedly carried by said housing, and said diaphragm having a projecting portion defining a socket receiving one end of said plunger, whereby said plunger may be used to actuate said diaphragm, said projecting portion being aligned with said first flap valve member and directly engaging said first flap valve member to retain said first flap valve member in an inlet passage closing position when said diaphragm is in its instroke position.

3. A ump comprising a pump body, a diaphragm sealed to said pump body, said pump body and said diaphragm combined defining a pump chamber, said pump body having an inlet passage and a discharge passage, a first flap valve member normally engaging an inner surface of said pump body and closing said inlet passage against the egress of fluid from said pump chamber and a second flap valve member normally engaging an outer surface of said pump body and closing said discharge passage against the ingress of fluid into said pump chamber, said first flap valve member and said second flap valve member being integrally connected to said diaphragm, said inlet passage being generally aligned with the center of said diaphragm, said first flap valve member being connected to an edge portion of said diaphragm, and said pump body having an inwardly sloping inner surface directing said first flap valve member into overlying relation to said inlet passage.

4. A combined pump diaphragm and flap valve assembly comprising a dome-shaped flexible diaphragm member having an outwardly projecting oflset peripheral seating edge, and apair of flap valve members integrally connected to said diaphragm member along said peripheral edge and depending therefrom generally parallel to the axis of said diaphragm member, one of said flap valve members being an inlet flap valve member and the other of said flap valve members being a discharge flap valve member.

5. A combined pump diaphragm and flap valve assembly comprising a flexible diaphragm member havingpcipheral edge, and a pair of flap valve members integrally connected to said diaphragm member along said peripheral edge, one of said flap valve members being an inlet flap valve member and the other of said flap valve members being a discharge flap valve member, said inlet flap valve member being relatively long as compared to said discharge flap valve member and being bendable to a position whereby an effective end portion thereof generally underlies the center of said diaphragm member.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said diaphragm has a central projecting portion projecting towards said inlet flap valve end portion and opening away from said inlet flap valve end portion to define a plunger receiving socket, said diaphragm member projecting portion being engaged with said inlet flap valve end portion when said diaphragm member is depressed.

'7. A pump comprising a pump body, a diaphragm sealed to said pump body, said pump body and said diaphragm combined defining a pump chamber, said pump body having an inlet passage and a discharge passage, said inlet passage terminating within said pump chamber, a valve seat surrounding the terminal end of said inlet passage, a spring socket disposed concentric to said valve seat, said spring socket including an upstanding Wall, an opening in said spring socket upstainding wall, a first flap valve member, said first flap valve member having an end portion of reduced width presenting at least one shoulder, said end portion projecting through said opening with said shoulder abutting said spring socket upstanding wall and said end portion engaging said valve seat, a return spring seated in said socket and urging said diaphragm to its outstroke position; said return spring holding said first flap valve members in place with said first flap valve member normally engaging said valve seat and closing said inlet passage against the egress of fluid from said pump chamber, and a second flap valve member normally engaging an outer surface of said pump body and closing said discharge passage against the ingress of fluid into said pump chamber, said first and second flap valve members being integrally connected to said diaphragm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain of 1904 

